American Citizenship: A Dual System

This legal text analyzes the historical development of citizenship in the United States, distinguishing between state Citizens, possessing inherent, God-given rights, and “citizens of the United States”, whose rights are granted by Congress. The document examines the 14th Amendment’s role in creating a second class of citizenship, focusing on its intent to grant federal citizenship to formerly enslaved people. It further contrasts the rights and protections afforded to each group, highlighting the significantly greater power and resources available to protect the rights of the latter class. Court cases are cited to support the distinctions drawn between these two classes of citizenship and to show the impact of this distinction on the lives of Americans. Finally, the text emphasizes the unequal balance in power between the two, resulting from federal government intervention.